Cyberjaya – Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem received a further boost during the MYChipStart Central Region Roadshow, today, highlighting the collaborative partnership among Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST), Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec), and the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM). where Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged between Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST), Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec), and the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM).
The occasion underscored the shared commitment of the three parties to accelerate the development of Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem through coordinated efforts in start-up development, infrastructure access, investment support, and talent building.
Present during the roadshow were Ts. Dr. Lee Hing Wah, Technical Director of Sidec, Angel Low, General Manager of ASEM, and Mr Jaffri Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of CREST (represented by Dr Shahrul Yazid Yahaya, Vice President, Market & Industry Development from CREST)
“This collaboration reflects a strong and deliberate effort to build a more complete semiconductor ecosystem in Malaysia. By combining programme support, shared infrastructure, strategic funding, and talent development, we are creating stronger pathways for Malaysian companies to innovate, scale, and contribute meaningfully to the future of IC design and advanced semiconductor development.” said Ts. Dr. Lee Hing Wah.
At the centre of this collaboration is the MYChipStart programme, led by CREST and set to be implemented under the New Industrial Masterplan 2030 (NIMP2030) and National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) . The programme will be supported by dedicated public funding to strengthen Malaysian semiconductor companies across the full development cycle — from ideation and validation to prototyping and testing.
Supported by Sidec and ASEM, MYChipStart is designed to provide participating companies with the critical tools, infrastructure, and ecosystem support needed to scale. This includes access to high-cost Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and shared advanced facilities provided by Sidec across Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park 1 & 2, as wellas support from global and local technology ecosystem partners such as Arm, Synopsys, AWS, Keysight, Ansys, Cadence, Sicada, QES, and Tekmark.
In parallel, the collaboration is expected to complement the Ehsan Capital RM100 million Selangor Semiconductor Fund, further strengthening Malaysia’s capacity to develop locally designed intellectual property (IP) and semiconductor chips. Together, these initiatives reflect a broader ambition to accelerate the nation’s transition from “Made in Malaysia” to “Made by Malaysia.”
Another major pillar of the collaboration is talent development. ASEM will work closely with CREST under the Engineering Talent for Semiconductor Industry (ETSI) initiative to develop a highly skilled and specialised talent pipeline capable of supporting increasingly complex IC design companies participating in MYChipStart.
The collaboration also reinforces the role of Sidec’s semiconductor infrastructure in enabling growth across the ecosystem. Through its facilities and shared resources at Malaysia IC Parks 1 and 2, Sidec will support incubation, development, and ecosystem-building efforts that allow semiconductor companies to reduce barriers to entry and accelerate their growth journey.
The collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment among CREST, Sidec, and ASEM to drive Malaysia’s semiconductor ambitions forward by strengthening the ecosystem from end to end — from talent and technology access to start-up support and commercial readiness.
As Malaysia continues to position itself as a high-value semiconductor hub, collaborations such as this will be critical in enabling more local companies to participate meaningfully in the global value chain and in advancing the nation’s long-term industrial and innovation agenda.